Microsoft word - aspirin and meds_rev12.23.1

The Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas SPECIAL INFORMATION ABOUT
ASPIRIN, DIET PILLS & HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS
Patients having surgery must discontinue any medication which contains aspirin or other non-steriodal anti-inflammatory agents (see list of drugs below). This included, but is not limited to, Phen-Fen (Phentermine and Fenfluramine), Redux, and other prescription and non-prescription diet pills. ASPIRIN
Aspirin has an effect on your body’s ability to clot and could increase your tendency to bleed at the time of surgery and during the post-operative period. DIET PILLS
Reaction between diet pills and anesthetic drugs could result in disturbances in your heart rhythms and could even cause cardiac arrest or death. HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS
It is very important that you inform my office of any herbal remedies that you are currently taking. Some herbal remedies can interfere with medications given before, during and after surgery. If you need minor pain medication, please take Tylenol. Tylenol is available at your pharmacy without a prescription and has an action very similar to that of aspirin. If you are allergic to Tylenol or unable to take it for some other reason, please notify us so that we may arrange a suitable substitute. You must discontinue these medications for at least two (2) weeks prior to surgical procedures. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of your procedure. If you have not informed us of the usage of these medications, please do so immediately. TO OUR PATIENTS:
It is very important that if you come down with a cold, fever, rash, or “any” medical problem close to your
surgery date, you should notify our office immediately.
Please do not take any medication which contains aspirin for two weeks prior to the scheduled date of your
surgery. Aspirin has an effect on your blood’s ability to clot and could increase your tendency to bleed at the
time of surgery and during the postoperative period. Please check the labels of medications that you take
(even those available without a prescription) to see that you do not take aspirin.
If you need minor pain medication, please take Tylenol. Tylenol is available at your pharmacy without a
prescription and has an action very similar to that of aspirin. If you are allergic to Tylenol or unable to take it for
some other reason, please notify us so that we may arrange for a suitable substitute.
PLEASE NOTIFY THE PHYSICIAN IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY VITAMINS, HERBAL MEDICATIONS, OR
NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS AS THESE CAN ALSO CAUSE PROBLEMS DURING YOUR SURGERY AND
SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN FOR THE TWO WEEK PERIOD PRIOR TO YOUR SURGERY.

Medication Information

Section 1:
The following drugs either contain aspirin and/or have undesirable side effects that may affect your surgery
(abnormal bleeding and bruising). These drugs should be avoided for at least two weeks prior to surgery. If you
need to take something for relief of minor pain, you may take Tylenol.
A.P.C.

Section 2:
The drugs listed below can have undesirable side effects that may affect your anesthesia or surgery. Please let
us know if you are currently taking any of these medications:
Achromycin

Section 3:
The following foods contain salicylates, which affect blood clotting. They do not need to be omitted completely
from your diet, but should be kept to a minimum for two weeks prior to your surgery.
Almonds

Source: http://www.drjeffreyjanis.com/patientresources/pre-post/Aspirin%20and%20Meds_rev12.23.pdf